Search

Simple Summary: The domesticated carmine cochineal produces pigments used in food, cosmetics, and the textile industry. Its use dates to the pre-Hispanic period and thus is an Amerindian legacy. Cochineals grow and feed on the edible leaves of cacti. Since insects feed on plant sap, they may obtain their microbes from the plants and indeed we found here that some of the fungi in the insect guts are the same as those encountered in cacti. Fungi may help in digestion as they are capable of breaking down plant polymers in cultures and inside guts. We found fungi inside cochineals during microscopic examinations using different procedures to detect fungi. One of the isolated fungi produces a purple pigment that resembles the carminic acid. This study identified several potential functions of cochineal fungi and examined their plant origin. The cochineal insect Dactylopius coccus Costa (Hemiptera) has cultural and economic value because it produces carminic acid that is used commercially. In this study, distinct fungi were cultured from dissected tissue and identified as Penicillium, Coniochaeta, Arthrinium, Cladosporium, Microascus, Aspergillus, and Periconia. Fungi were microscopically observed inside cochineals in the gut, fat body, and ovaries. Since cochineals spend their lives attached to cactus leaves and use the sap as feed, they can obtain fungi from cacti plants. Indeed, we obtained Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium fungi from cacti that were identical to those inside cochineals, supporting their plant origin. Fungi could be responsible for the degrading activities in the insect guts, since cellulase, pectinase, and amylase enzymatic activities in insect guts decreased in fungicide-treated cochineals. Our findings set the basis for the further study of the interactions between insects, fungi, and their host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey is abundant in natural mineral water sources, thanks to its location on the Alpine-Himalayan belt. Natural mineral water is drinking water characterized by its natural mineral, trace elements, and carbon dioxide content. Because of quite insufficient data, the boron content in bottled natural mineral waters in Turkey was analyzed by three different methods and compared: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique, carminic acid, and azomethine-H methods, in this study. The boron levels in mineral waters ranged from a minimum of 0.05 mg/L to a maximum of 8.61 mg/L. It was also safe by the upper limit level estimated by the World Health Organisation. As boron plays a beneficial role in human physiology, consuming natural mineral water may offer a positive contribution to public health by supporting boron intake in our country. The other outcome of our research was that the spectrophotometric carminic acid method can yield results similar to those obtained using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique since the boron level of Turkish mineral water was within the limits level of the carminic acid method. However, the result of the azomethine-H method was found not to be suitable. Cross-sensitivity with other elements in mineral water might have caused this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defensive chemicals of prey can be sequestered by some coevolved predators, which take advantage of prey toxins for their own defence. The increase in the number of invasive species in the Anthropocene has resulted in new interactions among non-coevolved predator and prey species. While novelty in chemical defence may provide a benefit for invasive prey against non-coevolved predators, resident predators with the right evolutionary pre-adaptations might benefit from sequestering these novel defences. Here, we chose a well-known system of invasive species to test whether non-coevolved predators can sequester and use toxins from exotic prey. Together with the invasive prickly pear plants, cochineal bugs (Dactylopius spp.) are spreading worldwide from their native range in the Americas. These insects produce carminic acid, a defensive anthraquinone that some specialized predators sequester for their own defence. Using this system, we first determined whether coccinellids that prey on cochineal bugs in the Mediterranean region tolerated, sequestered, and released carminic acid in reflex bleeding. Then, we quantified the deterrent effect of carminic acid against antagonistic ants. Our results demonstrate that the Australian coccinellid Cryptolaemus montrouzieri sequestered carminic acid, a substance absent in its coevolved prey, from exotic cochineal bugs. When attacked, the predator released this substance through reflex bleeding at concentrations that were deterrent against antagonistic ants. These findings reveal that non-coevolved predators can sequester and use novel toxins from exotic prey and highlights the surprising outcomes of novel interactions that arise from species invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary metabolites are specialized metabolic products synthesized by plants, insects, and bacteria, some of which exhibit significant physiological activities against other organisms. Plants containing bioactive secondary metabolites have been used in traditional medicine for centuries. In developed countries, one-fourth of medicines directly contain plant-derived compounds or indirectly contain them via semi-synthesis. These compounds have contributed considerably to the development of not only medicine but also molecular biology. Moreover, the biosynthesis of these physiologically active secondary metabolites has attracted substantial interest and has been extensively studied. However, in many cases, the degradation mechanisms of these secondary metabolites remain unclear. In this review, some unique microbial degradation pathways for lignans and C -glycosides are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide variety of cosmetics was frequently colored using synthetic coloring agents. They were used despite being harmful due to their brightness and exceptional color clarity. Researchers' attention was drawn to recent experiments that substituted natural colorants with harmful ones. We describe how to include (Miss Current) essential oil (EO) into soap using a straight forward saponification process in this article. It is interesting that the essential oil we added made the soap colored. Carminic acid (CA) was the chemical ingredient in soap that produced the color. From EO, carminic acid was extracted as the sodium salt of carminic acid (NCA), and it was then identified using a variety of spectroscopic methods. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy was used to determine the functional groups in CA. Additionally, the presence of carminic acid (CA) was verified using spectroscopic methods using mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Additionally, the antibacterial effectiveness of soap with essential oils was assessed. Additionally, molecular docking studies were used to investigate the affinity of carminic acid (CA) for binding to keratin and alpha-amylase.

The cochineal insect Dactylopius coccus Costa (Hemiptera) has cultural and economic value because it produces carminic acid that is used commercially. In this study, distinct fungi were cultured from dissected tissue and identified as Penicillium, Coniochaeta, Arthrinium, Cladosporium, Microascus, Aspergillus, and Periconia. Fungi were microscopically observed inside cochineals in the gut, fat body, and ovaries. Since cochineals spend their lives attached to cactus leaves and use the sap as feed, they can obtain fungi from cacti plants. Indeed, we obtained Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium fungi from cacti that were identical to those inside cochineals, supporting their plant origin. Fungi could be responsible for the degrading activities in the insect guts, since cellulase, pectinase, and amylase enzymatic activities in insect guts decreased in fungicide-treated cochineals. Our findings set the basis for the further study of the interactions between insects, fungi, and their host plants.

In this report, a new method involving glassy carbon electrodes modified with chitosan (Cs) was tested for the detection of carminic acid (CA) in the presence of allure red by square wave voltammetry. The modified electrode (Cs/GCE) presented activity toward the oxidation of CA at potential values less than 0.3 V The signal is generated from the oxidation of carboxylic acid in the chemical structure of CA. Compared to that of the unmodified electrode, the anodic peak current of the Cs/CGE electrode increased by more than 500 %, and the oxidation potential shifted to a lower potential. This result indicates that the sensitivity increases and the energy to oxidize CA decreases with the Cs/GCE. The optimal parameters were pH 3.0 and PBS buffer, the square wave voltammetry with accumulation time was tACC 30 s, the accumulation potential was EACC 0.0 V, the oxidation signal was proportional to the concentration of CA between 0.99 and 10.90 μmol/L, and the detection limit was 0.20 μmol/L. The relative standard deviation (R.S. D) was 5.0 % using five different electrodes. The Cs/GCE was used for food samples spiked with CA with consistent results [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes two of the most common natural sources of red anthraquinones that have been used since antiquity for textile dyeing and as lake pigments, namely cochineal insect and the roots of Rubia and Relbunium plants. Carminic acid is the main component of carmine, the red colorant obtained from cochineal. Alizarin and purpurin are found in the extracts of Rubia roots, but Relbunium roots contain only purpurin. These red anthraquinones have been identified in a variety of cultural heritage objects. High performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) is described as the most suitable analytical technique for the identification of these dyestuffs, particularly in micro-samples from textiles or pigment layers in paintings and polychrome sculptures. Finally, application of HPLC-DAD analysis to the identification of lake pigments in micro-samples of mural paintings of two eighteenth century Andean churches in Peru is described.

Carminic acid is a natural red dye extracted from the insect Dactylopius coccus. Due to its ideal dying effect and high safety, it is widely used in food and cosmetics industries. Previous study showed that introduction of polyketide synthase (OKS) from Aloe arborescens , cyclase (ZhuI) and aromatase (ZhuJ) from Streptomyces sp. R1128, and C-glucosyltransferase (UGT2) from D. coccus into Aspergillus nidulans could achieve trace amounts of de novo production. These four genes were introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae , but carminic acid was not detected. Analysis of the genome of A. nidulans revealed that 4′-phosphopantetheinyl transferase (NpgA) and monooxygenase (AptC) are essential for de novo biosynthesis of carminic acid in S. cerevisiae. Additionally, endogenous hydroxylase (Cat5) from S. cerevisiae was found to be responsible for hydroxylation of flavokermesic acid to kermesic acid. Therefore, all enzymes and their functions in the biosynthesis of carminic acid were explored and reconstructed in S. cerevisiae. Through systematic pathway engineering, including regulating enzyme expression, enhancing precursor supply, and modifying the β-oxidation pathway, the carminic acid titer in a 5 L bioreactor reached 7580.9 μg/L, the highest yet reported for a microorganism. Heterologous reconstruction of the carminic acid biosynthetic pathway in S. cerevisiae has great potential for de novo biosynthesis of anthraquinone dye. • Biosynthesis pathway of carminic acid has been reconstructed in S. cerevisiae. • 4′-Phosphopantetheinyl transferase is essential for functional expression of OKS. • Monooxygenase (AptC) is responsible for oxidation. • Endogenous hydroxylase (Cat5) is responsible for hydroxylation. • The highest production of carminic acid in microorganisms has been achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: In recent years, there has been an increase in the frequency of use of food additives and colorants to extend the life of food and to color it. Excessive consumption of these additives can lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and learning disorder, especially in children. Uncontrolled additives whose dosage is not specified can cause an allergic reaction, cause damage to the neurological system and cause cancer. There are not many studies showing the dose-dependent effect of carminic acid. It was aimed to determine the dose-dependent changes of carminic acid, a food additive, in liver, kidney, blood and brain tissues (hippocampus, brain, brain stem) and to investigate the effects of these doses on hyperactivity behaviorally. Materials and Methods: In our study, dose-dependent effects of 500 mg, 1500 mg and 3000 mg carminic acid (CA) used as a colorant in hippocampus, brain, brain stem, liver, kidney and blood samples were investigated. Results: 32 Wistar albino male rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into 4 groups as control, CA-500, CA-1500 and CA-3000. The locomotor activities of the rats were evaluated in the open field test, and their anxiety behaviors were evaluated in the elevated plus maze test. Carminic acid levels in hippocampus, brain, brain stem, liver, kidney and blood were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Locomotor activity and anxiety behavior test results of CA-1500 and CA-3000 groups were increased compared to the control group. In the results of HPLC analysis, 500 mg, 1500 mg and 3000 mg doses administered to rats were not detectable in hippocampus, brain and brain stem tissues, while a dose-dependent increase was found in liver, kidney and blood samples (p<0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that since carminic acid could not cross the blood-brain barrier, it was not detected in hippocampus, brain and brain stem tissues, and increased dose-dependently in peripheral tissues such as liver, kidney and blood. Although it cannot be detected in the brain, it has been observed that hyperactivity, which may increase locomotor activity and anxiety, may lead to behavioral changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to determine if a method developed in the laboratory by HPLC‐ESI‐QToF was able to identify the characteristic compounds of the Mexican cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) in freshly dyed wool fiber and following an artificially accelerated aging process. Wool fibers were dyed with various formulations of popular interest (red‐orange, Mexican red, cochineal red, and purple). These formulations are currently used by indigenous communities in the south of Mexico. Some dyed wools were aged in an UV chamber, in order to simulate the deterioration that a fiber dyed in a previous time could have. Notable results were the identification of the main component, carminic acid, and the respective biomarkers of the Mexican cochineal (dcII, dcIV, and dcVII) with a small amount of sample and in a short time, in three of the four formulations before and after aging, thus providing a method that can probably be used for conservation purposes of cultural heritage. It was concluded that when alum is used as a mordant and as a carbonate pH fixer, the fixation of cochineal on the wool is not very strong. This is one of the few works where Mexican cochineal has been studied, simulating the deterioration due to the passage of time in wool samples of different colors with the same natural dye. As a way of describing the color more objectively, the color was measured with the CIE L*A*B* scale in the four formulations of interest, in recently dyed and artificially aged wool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Considering the great importance of nanocomposite based photo-active nanomaterials for a variety of electronics, photonics and photovoltaics application, it is always worth considering to synthesize new hetreostructure. This paper describes the sol-gel and hydrothermal synthesis of metal (holmium, barium, and cadmium) doped TiO 2 /CdS nanocomposites for photoanode applications. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FTIR, UV–VIS, EDX, and SEM were used to examine the synthesized heterostructures. The band gap of pure TiO 2 NPs is 3.10 eV, which was effectively decreased to 2.16 eV by doping and coupling with CdS. The nanomaterial's crystallinity, crystallite size, morphology and elemental composition were determined by XRD, SEM and EDX, respectively. As sensitizers, the organic dyes dithizone, carminic acid, and pyrocatechol violet were used. FTIR was used to analyze the effective dye grafting on the surface of nanomaterials. In the presence of hole conducting P3HT polymer as solid state electrolyte, the sensitized materials were evaluated for solid state dye-sensitized solar cells. Compared to the reference device, Cd–TiO 2 /CdS photosensitized using Pyrocatechol violet dye demonstrated the highest efficiency of 2.68% (0.82%). Other parameters of this device, including open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current (Jsc), were determined to be 16.97 mA cm2 and 0.41V, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the re‐evaluation of the safety and efficacy of carmine (sensory additive, functional group: colourants – substances that add or restore colour in feeds) for cats and dogs. The additive consists of aluminium lakes of carminic acid (carmines), which are complexes of aluminium and carminic acid. Carminic acid, produced from the female insect Dactylopius coccus Costa, is the colouring principle and is present in the final additive at 50%. The additive does not pose a risk concerning genotoxicity and is considered safe for dogs and cats at 264 and 220 mg Carmine/kg feed, respectively (which correspond to 132 and 110 mg carminic acid/kg feed, respectively). Due to the nature of the additive, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that allergic reactions may occur in the target species following the ingestion of feeds containing the additive. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the exposure of users by inhalation is very likely, and that carmine is a respiratory and skin sensitiser; however, due to the lack of data, a conclusion cannot be reached on the potential skin and eye irritation of the additive. The additive is considered to be efficacious in feeds for dogs and cats under the proposed conditions of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel, portable, disposable, affordable, and environmentally friendly paper-based analytical device (PAD) was designed for on-site determination of carmine and carminic acid. This platform utilized paper test strips with a chitosan coating as an adsorption layer, which was characterized using scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and water contact angle measurement. Carmine and carminic acid could be efficiently adsorbed on chitosan-coated paper test strips, producing distinct colors that could be captured using a smartphone camera without the need for an elution step. Notably, by utilizing the Hue component of the HSL model, it was possible to differentiate between carmine and carminic acid, confirming their presence in a sample. Furthermore, the color saturation intensity changed in a concentration-dependent manner, allowing for the determination of carmine and carminic acid concentrations in the ranges of 200-800 μg/mL and 20-100 μg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the created test strip could be used to measure the percentage of carminic acid in the presence of carmine. The developed PAD enabled the quantification of carmine in various food samples without the need for reagents or complex equipment. The environmental impact of this method was found to be positive based on assessments using GAPI and AGREE tools., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the re‐evaluation of the safety and efficacy of carmine (sensory additive, functional group: colourants – substances that add or restore colour in feeds) for cats and dogs. The additive consists of aluminium lakes of carminic acid (carmines), which are complexes of aluminium and carminic acid. Carminic acid, produced from the female insect Dactylopius coccus Costa, is the colouring principle and is present in the final additive at 50%. The additive does not pose a risk concerning genotoxicity and is considered safe for dogs and cats at 264 and 220 mg Carmine/kg feed, respectively (which correspond to 132 and 110 mg carminic acid/kg feed, respectively). Due to the nature of the additive, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that allergic reactions may occur in the target species following the ingestion of feeds containing the additive. The FEEDAP Panel concluded that the exposure of users by inhalation is very likely, and that carmine is a respiratory and skin sensitiser; however, due to the lack of data, a conclusion cannot be reached on the potential skin and eye irritation of the additive. The additive is considered to be efficacious in feeds for dogs and cats under the proposed conditions of use.

Summary: In an attempt to investigate influence of the utilization of organic dyes on photovoltaic performance of low‐cost dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), carminic acid (CA) obtained from cochineal insect was employed as photosensitizer to fabricate DSSCs. To recognize light absorption behavior of the CA, UV‐Vis spectroscopy was taken. The CA comprises noticeable spectrum of solar radiation, 430 to 540 nm that makes it appropriate for use as a photosensitizer in DSSCs. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the CA revealed the presence of carboxylic functionality, enabling good anchorage to the surface of TiO2. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis manifests that the suppression of the electron recombination at the TiO2/CA/electrolyte interface was insufficient. Quantum chemical calculations of the CA dye were performed by using the density functional theory (DFT). The lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level of the CA matched well for the injection of electron from the CA to the conduction band edge of TiO2. The achieved photo‐conversion efficiency of a DSSC employing the CA photosensitizer was 1%, which was found to be much higher than that of several natural dyes‐based DSSCs under a simulated solar light illumination of 100 mW/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revival of natural dyes in textiles is gaining popularity due to their sustainable nature. The current study has been undertaken to improve the dyeing behaviors of cochineal-based natural dye (carminic acid) for wool dyeing under the influence of microwave treatment. For the purpose, wool fabric and extract obtained from cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus costa) were irradiated for 1–6 min. The nature of dye bath (pH) and dyeing temperature were optimized using optimal irradiation conditions. To make dyeing process more sustainable and eco-friendly, bio-mordants and chemical mordants have been employed at optimal conditions. It is found that microwave treatment of extraction for 5 min is suitable to get darker shades with acceptable color characteristics using unirradiated wool fabric. K/S was found using acidic dye bath of cochineal insect of pH 1 for dyeing unirradiated fabric at 70°C using acidic extract of Cochineal bugs. Suggested ISO standards for color fastness revealed that 5% of henna and 3% pomegranate as bio-mordant have not only given high color depth but also rated excellent fastness properties as compared to chemical mordants used. It is found that MW treatment has not only improved the dyeing behavior of carminic acid but also enhanced the color characteristics.

This work concerns the study of colors and dyes identified on archaeological textiles from the Atacama Desert. The different garments and ornaments come from the excavation of two important pre-Columbian cemeteries of the Tarapacá region: Tarapacá-40 attributed to the Formative period (1100 BC–660 AD) and Pica-8 to the Late Intermediate period (900–1450 AD). For the first time, a multi-analytical approach with non-invasive techniques using FORS and SERS was applied on samples of less than 2 cm of length for physicochemical characterization of the raw materials and the dyes employed in the textile production of northern Chile. The fibers are from animal origin. Blue, green, and yellow are identified as indigo, but we cannot discard a mixture with other dyes to vary hue and shade; while carminic acid and alizarin—to a lesser extent—are found on red, orange, and brown samples. This research provides new elements for the discussion about the textile technology developed in this desertic region, its changes, and continuities along the history. Our results are compared to recent findings on neighboring regions from South-Central Andes, to improve the current knowledge and discuss the existence of dyeing textile cultural traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three foodstuffs (surimi, minced meat, and milk) were dyed with carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake. The effects of protein, metal ions, and food additives on the color of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake were investigated. After being dyed by carminic acid, the colors of surimi, minced meat, and milk were light purple, red, and gray‐green, respectively. When using carminic aluminum lake, surimi and milk were magenta, and minced meat was red. Regarding the carminic acid solution, the presence of myofibrillar protein (MFP), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI) turned it red by changing the pH, while the presence of casein made it orange. The carminic aluminum lake solution turned magenta in all four cases, which were not affected by protein. The color of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake was significantly affected by 0.001–0.1 mol/L Fe3+, 0.001–0.1 mol/L Fe2+, 0.001–0.1 mol/L Cu2+, and 0.1 mol/L Ca2+, limiting their application in iron‐, copper‐, and high‐calcium foods. The color of carminic acid was changed to yellow by 0.01%‐1% sodium nitrite, but 0.01%–1% ascorbic acid and 0.01%–0.1% monascus color did not significantly affect the color of either carminic acid or carminic aluminum lake. This paper provides a reference for the application of carminic acid and carminic aluminum lake in food science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) is a key pest of the prickly pear cactus in Mexico where the plant, and its phytophagous community, are native. It is also an introduced pest in Brazil and the Mediterranean basin. Amongst the phytophagous community of prickly pear in Mexico there is also Dactylopius coccus, the cultivated cochineal. This cochineal is used to obtain carminic acid as a natural dye, but it has also been reported as an invasive pest in Ethiopia. The most feasible control option for these insects is biological control, but whether their natural enemies develop well in both species is unknown. The aim of this work was to study the biology of the predator, Laetilia coccidivora (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), when it was fed either D. opuntiae or D. coccus in the laboratory. The predator completed its development on both species. Carminic acid was at higher concentrations in D. coccus (8–25%) than D. opuntiae (2–5%), and feeding on D. coccus had negative effects on larval duration (16.7 vs. 22.0 days), developmental time (36 vs. 43.2 days) and survival rate of the predator (42.5 vs. 92.4%). Fecundity (22.7 vs. 12.9 eggs per female), net reproductive rate (R0 = 10.1 vs. 5.8) and intrinsic rate of increase (rm = 0.064 vs 0.041) were also diminished when L. coccidivora fed on D. coccus, compared with D. opuntiae. We discuss possible reasons for variation in predator fitness when fed on each prey type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Andean church of San Andrés de Pachama is located in the highland of the northernmost of Chile, near the limit with Bolivia and next to the Ruta de la Plata. This commercial route contributed in the past to the transport and commerce of various raw materials, such as silver, from the Andean mountains region to the Pacific Ocean coast and then to the European market. The walls inside the church are decorated with paintings from the end of the eighteenth century that reproduce religious motivs together with flowers, fruits, and birds. In this study, micro samples taken from one of the mural paintings have been analysed to acquire information on the artistic materials and the painting technique previous to the restoration of the paintings. Analysis by micro-Raman spectroscopy complemented with scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection allowed the identification of orpiment, vermilion, indigo, smalt, antlerite, hematite, carmine lake, and wood charcoal as pigments as well as gypsum as the ground layer. Lipidic and proteinaceous materials extracted from the microsamples were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and indicated the use of a mixture of egg and siccative oil as binders and a secco painting technique involving animal glue as the plaster primer. Smalt and the prized cochineal lake are reported for the first time in an Andean colonial mural painting.

Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementias are progressive neurodegenerative diseases accompanied by dementia and a wide array of symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability. The hallmark of the disease is alpha synuclein aggregation, leading to the formation of Lewy. In this paper we investigate, using various in silico tools, the potential antiaggregation effects of anthraquinone derivatives carminic, kermesic and laccaic acid and their potential future use as lead compounds for clinical applications. To this end, we employed a combination of predictors used for properties like absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), drug-likeness and lead-likeness. Additionally, we used a molecular docking to estimate the binding affinities of the three compounds to alpha synuclein. Our predictions indicate kermesic acid as the compound having the greatest therapeutical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between the weight, size, and age of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) on the amount of dry mealybug (Dactylopius coccus costa) and its content of carminic acid (CA) under conditions greenhouse. 50 cladodes of O. ficus-indica of different ages were used, which were divided according to their age: young (4 months), mature (6 months) and old (≥ 8 months). The information collected was analyzed through the methodology of generalized linear models and the differences between the ages of the cladodes were performed using least squares means at α = 0.05. In addition, the Pearson correlation (between continuous variables) and the Hays (ω2) (between nominal variables and continuous variables) with hypothesis test at α = 0.05 were used to establish the associations between the morphology (r), classification (age) of the cladode (ω2) with the production of mealybug and the AC content. It was found that the age of the cladode affected (P < 0.001) the production of the insect (measured in dry weight) but did not affect (P > 0.05) the AC content, which was 18.7 to 19.3 %. Cladode weight and thickness were negatively correlated with AC content: r = -0.19 (P < 0.05) and -0.21 (P < 0.05), respectively. While the length and width of the cladode were not correlated (P > 0.05) with the AC content. For a greenhouse production system of D. coccus costa, it is recommended to use cladodes from 4 months of age, although at this age a lower production of mealybug is expected; but, AC content similar to that produced in a cladode classified as mature or old. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Natural colors particularly animal-based colorants are employed in the field of cosmetics, food, and flavors and also gaining popularity in textiles, due to their soothing nature. In this study, the microwave-assisted extraction of colorant from cochineal insects for dyeing of bio-mordanted silk has been carried out. Acidic, methanolic, and acidified methanol solubilized media were used to extract the natural colorant from cochineal under microwave irradiation for 1–6 min. Bio-mordants have been employed at optimized conditions to make the process greener and sustainable. It is found that acid solubilized extract of pH 4, employed at 55 °C for 55 min containing 5 g/100 mL of Glauber's salt as exhausting agent has given high color strength onto microwave-treated silk fabric. Suggested ISO standards for colorfastness have revealed that bio-mordants have given excellent color depth and excellent rating of fastness properties, compared with chemical mordants used. It is found that microwave treatment has not only improved the dyeing behavior of colorant extracted from cochineal in acid solubilized medium but also enhanced the color characteristics onto bio-mordanted silk fabric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a current trend of fabricating healthier products, food manufacturing companies seek for natural-based food colorant aiming to replace the synthetic ones, which apart from meeting sensorial and organoleptic aspects, they can also act as health promoters offering additional added value. Carminic acid is a natural based food colorant typically found in several insect taxa. However, there are current approaches which pursue the production of this natural pigment via biotechnological synthesis. To date, this colorant has been intensively applied in the manufacture of several food items. Unfortunately, one of the main limitations deals with the establishment of the right protocol of extraction and purification of this component since there is no report analyzing the main extraction techniques for obtaining carminic acid. Therefore, this review, for the first time, comprehensively analyzes the ongoing strategies and protocols proposed by scientists towards either extraction or purification of carminic acid from its origin source, and from biotechnological systems. Emphasis has been focused on the main findings dealing with extraction techniques and the relevant insights in the field. A detailed discussion is provided on the advantages and drawbacks of the reported extraction and purification methods, main solvents used and their key interactions with target molecules. [Display omitted] • Current strategies for extracting carminic acid are declared. • Innovative purification techniques towards carminic acid are reviewed. • The guidelines to the new scientists for the effective extraction are stated. • Introduction of carminic acid production via biotechnology is elucidated. • The current research gaps and perspectives are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to prepare two hairpin-structure DNA probes by conjugating carminic acid (CA) or hemin into two ends of specific genes of coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) (probe CV-A16-CA and probe EV-A71-hemin). Then, probe CV-A16-CA and probe EV-A71-hemin as the signal molecules were adsorbed onto NH 2 -MIL-53 (Al) (MOF). Based on these biocomposites, an electrochemical biosensor with dual-signal outputs for simultaneous assay of CV-A16 and EV-A71 was constructed. The stem-loops of probes switched both CA and hemin monomer to dimer, reducing the electrical activity of both CA and hemin. Subsequently, the target-induced opening of the stem-loop switched both CA and hemin dimers to monomers, resulting in two nonoverlapping increasing electrical signals. This sensitively reflected the concentration of target CV-A16 and target EV-A17 ranging from 10−10 to 10−15 M with a detection limit of 0.19 and 0.24 fM. This strategy was mainly applied to the simultaneous determination of target CV-A16 and target EV-A17 in 100% serum with satisfactory results. The MOF combined with the high loading capacity broke through the intrinsic limitation on sensitivity using the traditional methods. An increase of three orders of magnitude was observed. This study involved simple one-step detection, and only a simple replacement of a gene could trigger its potential in clinical and diagnostic applications. Two novel hairpin-structure DNA probes were prepared through the conjugation of carminic acid (CA) or hemin into two ends of specific genes of coxsackievirus A16 (CV-A16) and enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) (probe CV-A16-CA and probe EV-A71-hemin). Then probe CV-A16-CA and probe EV-A71-hemin as the electrical signal molecules were respectively adsorbed onto NH 2 -MIL-53 (Al) (MOF). Based on these biocomposites, an electrochemical biosensor with dual signal outputs for simultaneous assay of CV-A16 and EV-A71 was constructed. The stem loops of probes switched both CA and hemin monomer to dimer, greatly reducing CA's and hemin's electrical activity. Subsequently, target-induced opening of stem-loop structure switched both CA and hemin dimer to monomer. Dimer to monomer transformation of both CA and hemin resulted in two non-overlapping increasing electrical signals, which sensitively reflected the concentration of target CV-A16 and target EV-A17 ranging from 10−10 M to 10−15 M with the detection limit of 0.19 fM and 0.24 fM. In particular, this strategy was applied to the simultaneous determination of target CV-A16 and target EV-A17 in 100% serum with satisfactory results. [Display omitted] • Two dimer-monomer switching probes for assay of CV-A16 and EV-A71 were prepared. • A novel dual-signal electrochemical biosensor with high sensitivity was constructed. • It showed an excellent analytical feature, even in whole serum. • It is a simple, low cost and one-step detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Color change in artworks has been commented on for centuries. Fading of watercolor pigments is a notable alteration. Pigments based on carminic acid are among those particularly prone to color loss, but the mechanism and factors are not well understood. Results We painted out three pigments prepared from the aqueous extract of carminic acid (CA) from Dactylopius coccus: the uncomplexed, and aluminium- and tin-complexed lakes. These were applied in a 2% gum Arabic solution to papers that were acidic, neutral or alkaline pH and exposed to accelerated light aging in a weatherometer. The comparative rate of fading was dependent on the complexation and on the pH of the substrate. On alkaline paper, the Al complex was least light stable, on neutral paper the three colorants responded similarly, and on acidic paper the tin complex was the least light stable. This is discussed in light of the published information on reactions and mechanism of color loss of CA. Graphical abstract Cochineal-based pigments fade on exposure to light. In watercolor paints, the rate depends not only on the complexation of the ligand but also the pH of the paper substrate

A facile synthesis of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and methionine film modified screen printed carbon electrode (rGO-methionine/SPCE) was proposed as a disposable sensor for determination of food colorants including amaranth, tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carminic acid. The fabrication process can be achieved in only 2 steps including drop-casting of rGO and electropolymerization of poly(L-methionine) film on SPCE. Surface morphology of modified electrode was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This work showed a successfully developed novel disposable sensor for detection of all 4 dyes as food colorants. The electrochemical behavior of all 4 food colorants were investigated on modified electrodes. The rGO-methionine/SPCE significantly enhanced catalytic activity of all 4 dyes. The pH value and accumulation time were optimized to obtain optimal condition of each colorant. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for determination, and two linear detection ranges were observed for each dye. Linear detection ranges were found from 1 to 10 and 10 to 100 µM for amaranth, 1 to 10 and 10 to 85 µM for tartrazine, 1 to 10 and 10 to 50 µM for sunset yellow, and 1 to 20 and 20 to 60 µM for carminic acid. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated at 57, 41, 48, and 36 nM for amaranth, tartrazine, sunset yellow, and carminic acid, respectively. In addition, the modified sensor also demonstrated high tolerance to interference substances, good repeatability, and high performance for real sample analysis.

A simple and rapid distance paper-based analytical device (dPAD) for the detection of lead (Pb) in foods is proposed herein. The assay principle is based on competitive binding between carminic acid (CA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) to Pb in a food sample. The paper channels were pre-immobilized with PEI, before reacting with a mixture of the sample and CA. Pb can strongly bind to the CA; hence, the length of the red color deposition on the flow channel decreased as a lower amount of free CA bound to PEI. The dPAD exhibited good linear correlation, with ranges of 5–100 µg·mL−1 (R2 = 0.974) of Pb. Although, the limit of detection (LOD) of this platform was rather high, at 12.3 µg·mL−1, a series of standard additions (8.0, 9.0, and 10.0 µg·mL−1) can be used to interpret the cutoff of Pb concentrations at higher or lower than 2 µg·mL−1. The presence of common metal ions such as calcium, magnesium, nickel, and zinc did not interfere with the color distance readout. The validity of the developed dPAD was demonstrated by its applicability to screen the contamination of Pb in century egg samples. The results obtained from the dPAD are in accordance with the concentration measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) (n = 9). In conclusion, this proposed dPAD, combined with the standard addition method, could be applied for screening Pb contamination in food matrices. This platform is, therefore, potentially applicable for field measurements of Pb in developing countries, because it is cheap and rapid, and it requires no significant laborious instruments.

The revival of natural dyes in textiles is gaining popularity due to their sustainable nature. The current study has been undertaken to improve the dyeing behaviors of cochineal-based natural dye (carminic acid) for wool dyeing under the influence of microwave treatment. For the purpose, wool fabric and extract obtained from cochineal insects (Dactylopius coccus costa) were irradiated for 1–6 min. The nature of dye bath (pH) and dyeing temperature were optimized using optimal irradiation conditions. To make dyeing process more sustainable and eco-friendly, bio-mordants and chemical mordants have been employed at optimal conditions. It is found that microwave treatment of extraction for 5 min is suitable to get darker shades with acceptable color characteristics using unirradiated wool fabric. K/S was found using acidic dye bath of cochineal insect of pH 1 for dyeing unirradiated fabric at 70°C using acidic extract of Cochineal bugs. Suggested ISO standards for color fastness revealed that 5% of henna and 3% pomegranate as bio-mordant have not only given high color depth but also rated excellent fastness properties as compared to chemical mordants used. It is found that MW treatment has not only improved the dyeing behavior of carminic acid but also enhanced the color characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cochineal insect (Homoptera: Dactylopiidae) has a long history of artificial breeding and commercial use. A red pigment, cochineal, can be extracted from dried females. Cochineal is mainly comprised of carmine acid, kermesic acid, flavokermesic acid, DC*, DC* and spiroketalcarminic acid, and has high stability and safety in a wide range of applications, including in medicines, as a natural pigment additive, cosmetics and other fields. Due to its high price, encouraging farmers to breed cochineal insects is a Poverty Alleviation project in remote parts of Yunnan Province. However, the quality of cochineal is affected by variables such as gender, and development stage, and environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light and pests. Because of this variability, NMR, HPLC-DAD-ESI MS/MS, excitation-emission fluorescence data and three-way PARAFAC decomposition, multivariate statistical analysis and other techniques are used to detect and validate cochineal quality. This paper reviews the commercial application of cochineal and cochineal dye in order to attract additional research interest to these products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A fast, efficient on-line method to study dye degradation is presented. • Light-induced degradation pathways for eosin and carminic acid are proposed. • The presence of DMSO influences the in-solution degradation mechanism. • The main product of in-solution and on-textile degradation was identical. • LC-MS analysis allowed the observed degradation products to be identified. To help conserve the vast array of (combinations of) dyestuffs and pigments encountered in cultural-heritage objects and application materials, a rapid and convenient method for dye-degradation research is required. In-solution degradation studies of dyes in a strong solvent, such as the commonly used dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), are potentially of interest, in addition to studies involving other solvents, such as water. The degradation of eosin and carminic acid under the influence of light was investigated in two solvents, i.e. in a mixture of DMSO and acetonitrile and in pure water. A liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed for analysis of the degraded samples and identification of the individual components. The presence of DMSO generally facilitated faster degradation, which, in combination with its universal solvating properties are advantageous. However, different products were formed in the presence of DMSO. Degradation pathways for eosin and carminic acid in these solvents are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The methodology to determine carminic acid, is rapid without sample pretreatment. • Using a modified silver colloid allows to detect the dye at very low concentration. • The amount of dye resulted nearly identical to that determined from HPLC measurements. Abstract Carminic acid (CA) contained in one kind of gummy candy was detected and quantified by using vibrational and electronic spectroscopy, respectively; the proposed methodology in solution is simple and rapid without sample pretreatment as usually used and reported. The identification of CA in candies was performed through the Raman and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra along with the equivalent spectral data from the natural CA dye. A modified silver colloidal solution was used in order to obtain SERS activity of CA at very low concentration in colloidal aqueous solution. Theoretical calculations allow infer about both the CA/silver surface interaction nature and on the orientation of CA on the surface. The electronic spectroscopic (UV–Vis) data allowed quantify CA in candies; the amount resulted nearly identical to that determined from HPLC traditional measurements. The present results should contribute to the health of children consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three groups of insect dyes are described: three cochineal dyes, the kermes dye and the lac dye. The major color components are carminic acid, kermesic acid and laccaic acids, respectively. These dyes are red anthraquinone derivatives. The chemical structures are described. All of these dyes have extensive histories that are related briefly; however, only American cochineal is of commercial importance today. Two manufactured derivatives of cochineal, carmine and acid-stable carmine (4-aminocarminic acid) are described in some detail including the chemical identity, toxicity, stability, and staining and non-staining applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hybrid materials based on montmorillonite, a cationic polymer and carminic acid were prepared. The surface charge of montmorillonite was inversed thanks to the cationic polymer, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride. Samples were characterized by a set of different techniques including Infrared (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopies to highlight the nature of the interactions between the organic and inorganic parts. The photo-stability of the samples was tested for different durations, and L*a*b* parameters were measured. It was possible to propose an approach for the degradation mechanism of the supported dye thanks to EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy. The experimental data were in agreement with the theoretical periodic DFT calculations where a molecular scheme of the adsorption complex was proposed, and the importance of hydration on the stability of the adsorption complex highlighted. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Lake pigments based on carminic acid, cationic polymer and clay were prepared. • Molecular interactions were underlined thanks to spectroscopic characterizations. • Fading of the lake pigments was followed by spectrophotocolorimetry. • Electron spin resonance spectroscopy stressed on the radical degradation pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polish Journal of Allergology / Alergologia Polska is the property of Termedia Publishing House and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The boron content was determined in 42 different foods consumed in Istanbul, Turkey. Eleven species of fruit, ten species of vegetable, eight species of food of animal origin, four species of grain, two species of nuts, two species of legume, and five other kinds of foods were included to this study. They were analyzed by two methods: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique and carminic acid assay, and the results of two methods were also compared. Boron concentration in foods ranged between 0.06-37.2 mg/kg. Nuts had the highest boron content while foods of animal origin had the lowest. A strong correlation was found between the results of the carminic acid assay and the ICP-MS technique (p = 0.0001, Pearson correlation coefficient: r = 0.956). Bland Altman analysis also supported this correlation. ICP-MS is one of the most common, reliable, and powerful method for boron determination. The results of our study show that spectrophotometric carminic acid assay can provide similar results to ICP-MS, and the boron content in food materials can be also determined by spectrophotometric method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid pigments have attracted great interest due to their stability and physicochemical properties that can be used in paintings, artworks and in the field of cultural heritage. The study of new materials includes the search for new pigments by immobilization of the dyes in resistant substrates such clays minerals to get new colour fonts and materials with high stability. Organic-inorganic based lake pigments, at different pH, have been prepared. Ti- and Al-pillared montmorillonite were synthesized and loaded with carminic acid (CA) and alizarin (Aliz) organic dyes. The pillaring process was investigated by X-ray diffraction, textural analysis, transmission electronic microscopy and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance of 27 Al. The interactions between the organic guest and the inorganic host were highlighted by infrared, 13 C and 27 Al solid state magnetic nuclear resonance and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopies. The spectra support complex formation between the chromophores and the inorganic matrix. The colours of the pigments prepared were pH dependent. Lake pigments based on Al-Pillared Mt were more stable under light than Ti-based hybrid, even in oil painting formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents a novel miniaturized analytical method for the determination of carminic acid, a natural red food dye, in complex food and pharmaceutical matrices by microchip electrophoresis (MCE) with photometric detection. MCE has become a very attractive microscale separation technique because it offers high-speed, high-throughput, small sample injection volume and low reagents consumption. Fast determination of carminic acid in less than 5 min was achieved on a poly(methyl methacrylate) microchip in anionic separation mode at pH 6. Photometric detector based on light-emitting diode technology was set to a wavelength of 490 nm. Using a sample injection volume of 900 nL, a limit of detection of 69 nmol L−1 was achieved. A wide linear dynamic range over four orders of magnitude (from nmol L−1 to mmol L−1) was observed for peak area. Developed method provided favorable intra- and inter-day repeatability of the migration time (up to 2.5% RSD), as well as the repeatability of the peak area (less than 1.9% RSD), regardless of the sample type. The content of carminic acid was determined in various foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals, such as candies, saffron, non-alcoholic drink, and sore throat lozenges with good recoveries (92.5–104.0%).

This work investigated the effect of pH variation of carminic acid on the structural and fluorescence properties of a silica-based hybrid composite fabricated using the sol-gel method. Changes in the microstructural characteristics and the structural and fluorescence properties were investigated as the pH of the carminic acid varied from 2.5 to 12.0. The hybrid composite significantly enhanced the fluorescence intensity with a tendency to increase at higher pH values. Results also showed that the pH of carminic acid changed the structural arrangement of Si–O rings. Specifically, low pH values for the carminic acid favor the formation of four-membered Si–O rings, while high pH promotes an arrangement of six-membered Si–O rings. The close relationship between the structural and functional properties of silica and the ability to control these properties by changing the pH value of the dye could have a strong impact on its incorporation in the development of emergent technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]